Best 6 Healthy Chicken And Spinach Panini Recipes

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Calling all sandwich lovers! This article introduces a delectable dish that combines the goodness of chicken and spinach in a healthy and flavorful panini. Perfect for a quick lunch, light dinner, or a satisfying snack, this chicken and spinach panini offers a delightful balance of flavors and textures. Inside, you'll find a collection of scrumptious recipes that guide you through creating this culinary delight. From the classic combination of mozzarella and pesto to the tangy twist of sun-dried tomatoes and arugula, these recipes cater to various taste preferences. Get ready to embark on a culinary journey as we explore the world of chicken and spinach paninis, ensuring you find the perfect recipe to tantalize your taste buds.

Recipes included in the article:
1. Classic Chicken and Spinach Panini: A timeless recipe featuring tender chicken, sautéed spinach, and melted mozzarella cheese, all pressed between two slices of crispy bread.

2. Pesto Chicken and Spinach Panini: Elevate your panini with the vibrant flavors of homemade pesto. This recipe combines grilled chicken, sautéed spinach, and a generous spread of pesto, creating a symphony of flavors.

3. Sun-Dried Tomato and Arugula Chicken Panini: Introduce a tangy twist to your panini with sun-dried tomatoes and arugula. This recipe incorporates juicy chicken, sautéed spinach, and a medley of sun-dried tomatoes and arugula, resulting in a delightful burst of flavors.

4. Avocado and Feta Chicken Panini: Indulge in a creamy and flavorful twist with avocado and feta cheese. This recipe combines grilled chicken, sautéed spinach, sliced avocado, and crumbled feta cheese, creating a rich and satisfying panini.

5. BBQ Chicken and Spinach Panini: Experience the smoky and tangy flavors of BBQ sauce in your panini. This recipe features succulent BBQ chicken, sautéed spinach, and a generous drizzle of BBQ sauce, resulting in a tantalizing combination of sweet, smoky, and savory flavors.

Here are our top 6 tried and tested recipes!

CHICKEN FLORENTINE PANINI



Chicken Florentine Panini image

Chicken Florentine Panini, from Lee Bremson of Kansas City, Missouri, brings an Italian flair to this speedy meal. The grilled sandwich combines chicken with provolone cheese, spinach and red onion.

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 package (5 ounces) fresh baby spinach
2 teaspoons olive oil
1/4 cup butter, softened
8 slices sourdough bread
1/4 cup creamy Italian salad dressing
8 slices provolone cheese
1/2 pound shaved deli chicken
2 slices red onion, separated into rings

Steps:

  • In a large cast-iron or other heavy skillet, saute spinach in oil until wilted, about 2 minutes. Drain; wipe skillet clean., Spread 4 bread slices with salad dressing. Layer with a cheese slice, chicken, spinach, onion and another cheese slice. Top with remaining bread. Butter outsides of sandwiches. , Cook in same skillet or panini maker until bread is golden brown and cheese is melted.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 582 calories, Fat 26g fat (10g saturated fat), Cholesterol 62mg cholesterol, Sodium 1688mg sodium, Carbohydrate 63g carbohydrate (4g sugars, Fiber 5g fiber), Protein 23g protein.

IN-A-PINCH CHICKEN & SPINACH



In-a-Pinch Chicken & Spinach image

I needed a fast supper while babysitting my grandchild. I used what my daughter-in-law had in the fridge and turned it into what's now one of our favorite chicken and spinach recipes. -Sandra Ellis, Stockbridge, Georgia

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Dinner

Time 25m

Yield 4 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 5

4 boneless skinless chicken breast halves (6 ounces each)
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 tablespoon butter
1 package (6 ounces) fresh baby spinach
1 cup salsa

Steps:

  • Pound chicken with a meat mallet to 1/2-in. thickness. In a large skillet, heat oil and butter over medium heat. Cook chicken 5-6 minutes on each side or until no longer pink. Remove and keep warm., Add spinach and salsa to pan; cook and stir 3-4 minutes or just until spinach is wilted. Serve with chicken.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 297 calories, Fat 14g fat (4g saturated fat), Cholesterol 102mg cholesterol, Sodium 376mg sodium, Carbohydrate 6g carbohydrate (2g sugars, Fiber 1g fiber), Protein 36g protein. Diabetic Exchanges

PESTO CHICKEN PANINI



Pesto Chicken Panini image

Provided by Sandra Lee

Categories     main-dish

Time 48m

Yield 4 servings

Number Of Ingredients 8

1 (16-ounce) package chicken tenders, rinsed and patted dry
1/2 cup prepared pesto
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1 (16-ounce) loaf ciabatta bread, sliced in half horizontally
4 slices pre-sliced mozzarella
1 cup baby arugula or spinach, rinsed and patted dry
2 tomatoes, sliced
15 fresh basil leaves

Steps:

  • In a plastic bag, combine chicken tenders and 1/4 cup of pesto, set aside and let sit for 15 minutes.
  • In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup pesto and mayonnaise. Spread mixture on both sides of ciabatta; set aside.
  • Preheat an oiled grill pan over medium-high heat. Grill chicken tenders 5 minutes per side. Remove and let rest for 5 minutes. Turn the heat down to medium and re-oil the grill pan.
  • Place cheese on both halves of bread. Add arugula, then tomato, then basil leaves, then pesto chicken to bottom piece. Top with top half of bread. Place onto the grill pan and place a heavy pan on top of the sandwich. Grill for 3 minutes per side or until cheese starts to melt.
  • Cut into 4 portions and serve.

ARTICHOKE AND SPINACH DIP CHICKEN PANINI



Artichoke and Spinach Dip Chicken Panini image

Provided by Jeff Mauro, host of Sandwich King

Categories     main-dish

Time 20m

Yield 4 sandwiches

Number Of Ingredients 10

One 14-ounce jar marinated artichoke hearts, drained and chopped
2 cups baby spinach, chopped
1 cup sour cream
1 cup grated fontina
1/4 cup grated Parmesan
Salt and pepper
8 slices rye bread
2 grilled boneless skinless chicken breasts, sliced thin on the bias
1 cup jarred roasted red peppers, sliced
Olive oil, for brushing

Steps:

  • Stir together the artichokes, spinach, sour cream, fontina and Parmesan in a bowl. Season the mixture with salt and pepper to taste.
  • Preheat a grill pan or panini press on medium heat.
  • Spread the artichoke mixture on all the slices of bread. Place 1 layer of chicken on 4 of the bread slices, then top each with a couple of layers of roasted red peppers. Top with the remaining bread. Brush the outside of each sandwich with some olive oil.
  • Place the sandwiches on the grill pan or in the panini press. If using a grill pan, place a cast-iron skillet or brick wrapped in foil on top of the sandwiches to weigh them down. Cook, flipping halfway through, until golden brown and the cheese is melted and gooey in the center, 3 to 5 minutes per side. If using a panini press cook 6 to 10 minutes total.

ROTISSERIE CHICKEN PANINI



Rotisserie Chicken Panini image

This ooey-gooey, melty delight is packed with bacon, chicken, cheese and just enough lemon to tickle your taste buds. Other chicken panini recipes don't compare!-Terri McCarty, Oro Grande, California

Provided by Taste of Home

Categories     Lunch

Time 20m

Yield 2 servings.

Number Of Ingredients 13

3 tablespoons mayonnaise
4-1/2 teaspoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1/2 teaspoon prepared pesto
1/4 teaspoon grated lemon zest
Dash pepper
4 slices sourdough bread
1/4 pound sliced rotisserie chicken
4 slices ready-to-serve fully cooked bacon
2 slices smoked part-skim mozzarella cheese
2 slices red onion, separated into rings
4 slices tomato
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Steps:

  • In a small bowl, combine the first six ingredients; spread half over two bread slices. Layer with chicken, bacon, mozzarella cheese, onion and tomato. Spread remaining mayonnaise mixture over remaining bread slices; place over top. Brush outsides of sandwiches with butter., Cook on a panini maker or indoor grill until bread is browned and cheese is melted, 3-4 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 653 calories, Fat 42g fat (16g saturated fat), Cholesterol 80mg cholesterol, Sodium 996mg sodium, Carbohydrate 40g carbohydrate (3g sugars, Fiber 2g fiber), Protein 28g protein.

HEALTHY GREEK CHICKEN PANINI



Healthy Greek Chicken Panini image

A quick and delicious lunch idea that is extremely versatile.

Provided by Lacey Keath

Categories     Main Dish Recipes     Sandwich Recipes     Panini Recipes

Time 20m

Yield 1

Number Of Ingredients 7

1 (10 inch) multigrain flour tortillas
1 tablespoon hummus
1 (4 ounce) grilled chicken breast, sliced
2 medium roasted red peppers, drained
2 tablespoons crumbled reduced-fat feta cheese
1 cup baby spinach leaves, or to taste
cooking spray

Steps:

  • Heat a panini maker.
  • Lay tortilla on a work surface and spread with hummus. Top with sliced chicken, red peppers, feta cheese, and then spinach. Fold tortilla in half and spray with cooking spray.
  • Grill in the preheated panini maker until outside is golden brown, 6 to 8 minutes.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 548.8 calories, Carbohydrate 49.7 g, Cholesterol 107.5 mg, Fat 15.3 g, Fiber 4.9 g, Protein 52 g, SaturatedFat 5.2 g, Sodium 1672.2 mg, Sugar 6.5 g

Tips:

  • Choose the right bread: A good quality bread will make all the difference. Look for a bread that is sturdy enough to hold up to the fillings, but not too thick or dense. A ciabatta roll, focaccia, or even a hearty whole wheat bread would all be good choices.
  • Don't be afraid to experiment with different fillings: The possibilities are endless when it comes to fillings for chicken and spinach paninis. Try different cheeses, vegetables, and sauces to find your favorite combination. Some popular options include mozzarella, cheddar, goat cheese, roasted red peppers, avocado, and pesto.
  • Cook the chicken properly: The chicken should be cooked through, but not overcooked. Overcooked chicken will be dry and tough. To ensure that the chicken is cooked through, use a meat thermometer to check the internal temperature. The chicken should reach an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Assemble the panini carefully: When assembling the panini, be sure to distribute the fillings evenly. You don't want one side of the panini to be overloaded with fillings while the other side is empty. Also, be careful not to overstuff the panini, or it will be difficult to close.
  • Cook the panini over medium heat: Cooking the panini over medium heat will help to ensure that the bread is cooked through without burning. If you cook the panini over too high of heat, the bread will burn before the fillings have a chance to heat through.

Conclusion:

Chicken and spinach paninis are a quick, easy, and delicious lunch or dinner option. With a few simple ingredients, you can create a flavorful and satisfying meal that the whole family will enjoy. So next time you're looking for a healthy and tasty meal, give these chicken and spinach paninis a try.

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